HE Salem Al Qassimi Leads UAE Delegation to BRICS Cultural Meeting in Russia
His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture, led a high-level delegation to the ninth BRICS Ministers of Culture Meeting held on September 11, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Russia. The meeting resulted in the adoption of the Joint Declaration of the Ministers of Culture of BRICS member states, emphasizing the importance of multilateral cultural cooperation.
In his address, HE Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi stressed the growing significance of collaboration to address global challenges, highlighting the UAE’s commitment to fostering multilateralism and promoting culture as a key tool for achieving sustainable development and peaceful coexistence. He underscored that "culture can unite people and drive global transformation."
HE Al Qassimi emphasized the role of culture and creative industries in driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and creating jobs. He advocated for establishing metrics to measure the economic output of these industries, which are crucial to a nation's socioeconomic development. He also recalled the UAE's leadership in the UNESCO resolution to protect the cultural and creative ecosystem in 2021.
The UAE delegation, accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Culture, engaged in meetings with BRICS culture officials to review the cultural agenda and draft the Joint Declaration. The delegation also attended the tenth St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum, where Emirati mezzo-soprano Fatima Al-Hashmi delivered a captivating performance at the gala event.
Russia, the 2024 BRICS Summit chair, is hosting the summit under the theme Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security.
